Category:News

It is with great sadness that we add Roger to the list of IS3 Fallen and place the SudLud title over his name.

Roger C. Carpenter, world-renowned martial arts pioneer and founder of the Kansas Karate Institute, died Aug. 24, 2018, in Wichita. He was 77. A force of nature and a self-made man, Roger Creighton Carpenter achieved folk hero status as both a martial artist and a law enforcement officer. He was a resolute fighter whose vanguard training and competing methods defined his storied career. Though feared and revered in equal measures, he was also beloved and enjoyed a profound loyalty from those who sought his immense knowledge. Carpenter, who had earned a rare 10th degree Black Belt, was driven by an unyielding internal compass. He was, perhaps, a man for another time. Steadfast and confident, humble and generous, Carpenter hated bullies and loved to see the underdog win. He was born Dec. 21, 1940, in McPherson, Kan., to Helen (Kutina) and Howard Carpenter, a World War II veteran who died when Carpenter was 12. After graduating from WaKeeney High School in 1959, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Rhode Island, he met Dale Alice, who would become his wife of 50 years. He also began training in Kenpo karate. Carpenter was a standout sailor, starting with his basic training, where he was recognized as an outstanding recruit by the commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Training Center in San Diego. He went on to serve three years as a water survival instructor at Naval Air Station Quonset Point. He also won the Navy’s first Physical Fitness Tournament, nicknamed the “Iron Man.” Thirty-five sailors competed for the title, which Carpenter handily won with nearly double the score of the next closest competitor. After leaving the Navy, Carpenter returned to Kansas to attend college. He graduated from Wichita State University with degrees in education and science and became a teacher for Wichita Public Schools. Soon after, he began a career in law enforcement, first working as a civilian training instructor for the Wichita Police Department then joining the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, where he served more than 20 years as a deputy, training officer and finally Range Master. In 1963, Carpenter opened Wichita’s first martial arts school at 369 N. Meridian Ave. He would go on to earn instructor rankings in Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and Eskrima and was an original practitioner of mixed martial arts, or MMA. Throughout his career as a fighter and teacher, Carpenter emphasized self-defense, full-contact training and street-fighting capability over traditional training methods. During the 1960s and 70s, Carpenter competed globally in tournaments and full-contact matches. He was a member of the U.S. team at the first World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Seoul and became a three-time All-American heavyweight karate champion. Though he competed worldwide, Carpenter’s most notorious fight was in Wichita in 1973 against local rival John Bal’ee in front of a sold-out crowd at Century II. The grudge match, billed as the first “no rules, bare-knuckle, anything goes” fight, ended with Carpenter knocking Bal’ee out of the ring. Historical footage of the rout ended with Bal’ee being wheeled out of the arena on a gurney and into an ambulance. Carpenter has been featured in numerous martial arts magazines including Official Karate, Karate Illustrated and the first Who’s Who in Martial Arts. In 1992, he appeared on one of Black Belt magazine’s most famous covers as a member of the “Dirty Dozen.” Carpenter has trained thousands of students, and his death has been deeply felt by the legions of martial artists and law enforcement personnel he has taught over the last six decades. His training, especially at the advanced level, was notoriously difficult, and after 55 years he had promoted only 33 students to the rank of Black Belt, a stunningly low number by any measure. Former Sedgwick County Sheriff Robert Hinshaw, who was a training instructor with Carpenter before becoming sheriff, remembered him as a mentor and friend who had a voracious appetite for knowledge. “Roger was a lifetime learner,” he said. “It was never enough for him to be satisfied with what he knew; he wanted to pursue what he didn’t know and master that.” Hinshaw also remembered Carpenter’s integrity and unwavering code of conduct: “Many times I would see him hold his ground on a position because he knew it was right – refusing to yield to political expediency or because there was an easier path of less resistance.” After retiring from the sheriff’s department in 1997, Carpenter embarked on a career as a United Nations peacekeeper. He served as a police adviser, firearms instructor and bodyguard in NATO missions throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East and frequently worked in war zones including Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor and Iraq. Carpenter’s warrior life changed when at 70, having finished at the top of his class in his fitness recertification, he suffered a stroke on a plane over Germany while returning to work as a peacekeeper in Iraq. His U.N. career ended and he returned to Wichita, where he was surrounded by family and friends as his health deteriorated. While his prolific life afforded him many successes, Carpenter’s finest legacy was his children and grandchildren, many of whom trained with him in the martial arts. And while his solemn nature made him reticent to brag, those who knew him well understood that his children were his greatest loves and his crowning achievement. Along with his father, mother and wife, Carpenter was preceded in death by his stepfather, Herman Castillo. He is survived by his children, Sherry (Mitch) Minnick, Shea Carpenter, Sage (Dale Aldridge) Carpenter, and Shane Carpenter; and grandchildren Brandon, Creighton, Taylor, Chase, Colton, Bailey, Nicholas and Cade. He also has three great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Jordan and Owen. Carpenter was interned at Lakeview Cemetery in Wichita in a private ceremony.

Guro promotions within IS3 Eskrima are far and few between. With that said I am excited to announce the promotions to the rank “IS3 Lahong Guro” of

Dave Swoboda
Michael Kosobucki
Jake Mandel

In the last few years these gentlemen have not only continued to grow as individuals developing their skills as practitioners but have also demonstrated great potential in developing students and the lineage of Inayan System III Eskrima. I look forward to their continued work in developing the positive reputation of IS3 Eskrima locally as well as around the world.

March 18, 2018

On this day Jo Bossaerts was promoted to IS3 Eskrimador.

Mr. Bossaerts has been committed to working in and with IS3 Eskrima and Suro Hart from 2007. To this day he has continued to support IS3 Eskrima activities in Belgium and around the world with the goals of quality growth and loyalty. We are honored to have Mr. Bossaerts continue his journey and represent IS3 Eskrima along the way.

Every once in a while a student comes along that leaves no question as to their desires to help move your dreams forward. Kristoffer Sundh is one of those students. His dedication to the continued success of IS3 Eskrima in Sweden and around the world has been illustrated through his hard work in training to not only meet, but surpass the testing standards and provide a safe and dynamic training environment for his students. His actions follow the example of his direct teacher IS3 Guro Kenneth Johansson.

IS3 Eskrima Katalungan Guro Kristoffer Sundh is a good example of the type of practitioner IS3 is looking for. We look forward to him entering the small circle of full IS3 Eskrima Guros in the future. Congratulations to him and Guro Johansson for work well done and a title well deserved.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this news post and share the passing of IS3 Kasama Gary E. Benson.

I don’t remember the first time I met Gary but it seems like I have known him all my life. His admiration for me always made me a bit uncomfortable as he was my senior in life and had much more experiance in Martial Arts in general than I have. A few years after my teacher (Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay) died, Gary got involved in my efforts to continue the expansion and exploration of Inayan Eskrima. Although there has been many opportunities for him to separate himself from my work, he stayed loyal and continued to be a driving force for IS3 Eskrima in his area and throughout the state of WI, USA. Through his acceptance of me and my struggles I came to love him like a true brother and even a father figure in my life. He was truly one of the kindest Martial Artiest I have ever met. I never heard him speak ill of another individual and always admired his way of staying positive even in the hardest of times. We shared wonderful moments in life, Training Martial Arts, listening to Reggae music, riding motorcycles, long talks about our love for nature and our hopes for humanity. Gary had a wonderful life. Although it was a struggle at times (as any good life should have IMO), he had a wonderful and loving wife, three beautiful children, five exceptional grandchildren, and countless friends. I could write for days about this wonderful man and the brief time in life we shared but somethings go better unsaid. I will wear the ring you gave me as long as it fits and walk with you my heart as I continue our dreams. I will honor you in our traditional ways for the next three days and into the future. Fly high and free my friend and thank you for the time we walked this path together. Although sad, your family is strong. You did a good job here and can rest well in that you made this world better for many. I will always love you my friend.

Until we meet again I will listen for your words in the wind, look for you soul on the wings of the birds in flight and your smile in the stars.

I am very happy to announce the promotion of Adam Benzaquen to IS3 Instructor (IL 1) and Brinsen Wynn to IS3 Katalungan Guro on September 18th, 2016. Both of these gentlemen have been involved with IS3 and Inayan Eskrima for over 15 years. Their support of IS3 in Wisconsin USA has been tremendous and of the highest quality.

I am looking forward to working with them in the future to bring IS3 Eskrima to new practitioners and location throughout the WI area. Their knowledge, attitude and instruction is a great example of efforts to move forward and grow within the art. I am honored to have them within the small circle of IS3 Instructors and Guros and call them brothers.

It is with great honor that I announce the first Full IS3 Guro and IS3 Eskrimador promotions in Europe.

After 14 year of training and countless challenges Kenneth Johansson has been promoted to Full IS3 Guro. With this promotion he has gained my complete confidence in his abilities to preserve the foundation of Inayan Eskrima and has all the tools to grow within the system in the future without my guidance. With this promotion he has gained the rights to rank all levels within Inayan System III Eskrima up to IS3 Katalungan Guro.

Along with Guro Johansson, Mattias Jansson has completed his training and teaching requirements of the foundation material. Based on his understanding of future responsibilities and commitments relative to giving rank and taking on students, he has chosen to take the rank of IS3 Eskrimador. This rank offers the ability to continue ones training and advancement within the advanced areas of the system without giving ranks to students directly.

Both of these gentlemen have committed themselves to the art of Inayan Eskrima in ways that are not matched by anyone I have met in Europe to date. I am honored by their interest in my system, history and lineage. It gives me great comfort to see that they have arrived at this special place in their development as Inayan System III Eskrima practitioners and I am looking forward to facing the challenges that confront IS3 Eskrima and its practitioners together.

Thank you gentlemen for your loyal support and continued feedback. It is an honor not only to call you my students but to call you brothers. I know you have been looking at this mark in your development for a long time, as do most students in the art, but I will ask that you don’t look at it as a finish line but rather as a new beginning. There is a lot to learn and a lot to give future generations….